DENVER, April 20, 2018
/PRNewswire/ -- Summer holidays mean a little extra time off work
to relax and take advantage of everything the season has to offer –
and in Denver, there is no
shortage of things to do. In fact, The Mile High City's holidays
have gotten so big, Fourth of July festivities last nearly a week,
Labor Day has become a month-long "summer finale" and even Father's
Day has emerged from being a backyard barbeque holiday for family
heroes to one that will feature one of the country's biggest
barbecue festivals, actual superheroes at Denver Comic Con and
more.
Below are just some of the ways visitors can take advantage of
their summer weekends – holidays included or not! For more
information, including hotel deals, go to the VISIT DENVER
website.
Memorial Day Weekend
Colorado Rockies 25th Anniversary Season –
Denver is home to seven professional sports teams, including Major
League Baseball's Colorado Rockies, celebrating their
25th anniversary this year. Festivities will include
special events, alumni player appearances, fan gifts and more.
There are home games against the Cincinnati Reds Friday through
Sunday and against the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
Taylor Swift Reputation Stadium Tour (May 25) – Sports Authority Field at Mile
High, home of the NFL's Denver Broncos, will host several concerts
this summer. On May 25, international
superstar Taylor Swift's Reputation
Stadium Tour will take the field with opening acts Camilla Cabello and Charli XCX.
Denver Day of Rock
(May 26) – Denver Day of Rock is a free event that features
five stages of live music along Denver's 16th Street Mall on the
Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. Denver
Day of Rock unites the community through music and
family-friendly entertainment while also raising funds to support
Amp the Cause, a Denver nonprofit focused on children and families.
Headliners for 2018 include Elle
King, Delta Rae, Dwayne
Dopsie and The Zydeco Hellraisers, A Thousand Horses and
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers,
among many other bands.
Water World Opening Day (May
26) – Located just north of downtown, Water World
features more than 45 water adventures on 64 acres of land – the
largest variety of water attractions in the U.S. Families can enjoy
everything from a lazy river to speed slides; children's play
adventures to Colorado's only
magnetic water coaster, the Mile High Flyer. The park features
kid-friendly food vendors, but picnics are also welcome and parking
is free.
Veterans Memorial Day Tribute (May
26) – This annual tribute honors all fallen Colorado heroes and their families. The 2018
Tribute will feature inspirational music, a Reading of Names, the
US Navy Bell Toll, Remembrance Wreath laying for heroes that have
died in past wars placed by veteran representatives and
presentations of signature Tribute banners and Pins to Gold Star
families.
Father's Day Weekend
The Denver BBQ Festival
(June 15-17) – Mile High Stadium
will be home to the inaugural Denver BBQ Festival this Father's Day
weekend. The Denver BBQ Fest will bring together ten top pitmasters
from Denver and around the country, including Denver's own
Jason Ganahl from Gque, to serve
award-winning BBQ. The festival will also feature live music, cold
drinks and BBQ tutorials and demonstrations. Admission is free;
guests pay for food and drinks.
Denver Comic Con (June 15-17)
– Denver Comic Con is a three-day, family-friendly fan
convention at the Colorado
Convention Center featuring the best in comics, along with sci-fi
and fantasy TV shows, movies, Japanese animation, cosplay, toys,
gaming and celebrity panel presentations. The 2018 event
will feature Gaten
Matarazzo and Noah Schnapps from the
Netflix series "Stranger Things"; Ron
Perlman of "Hellboy" and "Sons of Anarchy" fame;
Ray Park,
Daniel Logan
and Joonas Suotamo, who each appeared in various "Star
Wars" films; Bonnie
Wright, who played Ginny
Weasley in all eight films in the "Harry Potter"
series; and many more. Legendary Garfield comic strip
creator, Jim Davis, will celebrate
the character's 40th anniversary with the release of
Davis' latest book, Age Happens: Garfield Hits the Big 4-0.
And Frank Miller, co-director of
SIN CITY adapted from his graphic novel, co-creator of
Dark Knight III: The Master Race and one of the most
influential and awarded professionals in the entertainment industry
will appear on Sunday, June 17.
Denver Greek Festival (June
15-17) – The 53rd annual Denver Greek
Festival – a family-friendly festival with traditional Greek food,
music and entertainment – is one of the largest cultural festivals
in Colorado, attracting more than
25,000 attendees annually. The event will take place at The
Assumption of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
Juneteenth Music Festival (June
16) – Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration
commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. In Denver, tens of
thousands of festival goers will come together in Denver's historic
Five Points neighborhood – known as the "Harlem of the West" thanks
to its rich jazz history and diverse culture – to celebrate
freedom, community and culture. Set to a soundtrack of Blues,
R&B, Soul, Jazz and Hip-Hop music, nearly 200 vendors line
Welton Street - for an epic
celebration.
Denver PrideFest (June 16-17)
– Recognized as one of the top 10 pride events in the country,
Denver PrideFest is a free, two-day festival that takes place in
Denver's Civic Center Park. The weekend features activities and
entertainment for adults, kids and pets – from a Dogs in Drag
Parade and the annual Gay Pride Parade to the Big Gay 5K and three stages of music and cultural
entertainment. Headliners and the full entertainment lineup will be
announced in April.
Fourth of July Weekend
Kenny Chesney Trip Around the Sun Tour (June 30) – The weekend before the Fourth of
July, Kenny Chesney's Trip Around
the Sun Tour will stop in Denver
at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
Independence Eve (July 3) –
Held in Denver's Civic Center Park, the annual Independence Eve
celebration features a free patriotic concert, an innovative light
show on the Denver City & County Building and a stunning
fireworks finale over the city.
Harry Styles (July 3) – Touring his post-One Direction
debut album, Harry Styles will
headline at Pepsi Center with special guest, Kacey Musgraves.
Cherry Creek Arts Festival (July
6-8) – Every Fourth of July Weekend, the Cherry Creek
North neighborhood hosts the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, a
world-class and award-winning display of visual, culinary and
performing arts. More than five full blocks of the neighborhood
feature the works of local and nationally known artisans, vendors
and activities, including Artivity Avenue with interactive
activities for the whole family. Throughout the weekend, there are
also concerts, artist demos, pop-up performances and more.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre Summer Concert Series – Recently
named to the National Historic Register, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre is a
world-famous outdoor concert and recreation venue located
approximately 30 minutes from Denver. Red
Rocks is recognized for its star-studded concert roster,
stunning scenery and captivating ambience. The week of Fourth of
July will feature headliners The Avett Brothers, Blues Traveler and
Umphrey's McGee, among other bands.
Fireworks Displays
Major League Soccer's Colorado
Rapids play the Seattle Sounders on the Fourth of July, and fans
can stay late to watch the fireworks display over the field after
the game. Major League Lacrosse's Denver Outlaws will have
fireworks after their July
4th game against the Boston Cannons, and the
Rockies will have several nights of fireworks after competing
against the San Francisco Giants. Schedules for all teams can be
found online.
Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park puts on a fireworks
display on July 4, lighting up the
night sky beginning at dusk.
Summer Finale Highlights
Labor Day Weekend has become
such an affair in Denver that it
has been dubbed the city's "Summer Finale." This year's summer
finale is bigger than ever before, stretching from mid-August
through mid-September with signature events, a new major music
festival and plenty to see and do every weekend around the
city.
Colorado Classic & Velorama Festival (August 16-19) – During this year's Colorado
Classic, world-class pro teams will compete in circuit races in
Vail and Denver – ending in The
Mile High City on the final stages. In addition to the race, there
will be a three-day music, beer and food festival in the River
North (RiNo) Art District for spectators and athletes with
performances by Glass Animals, Cold War Kids, Vince Staples and more.
A Taste of Colorado (September
1-3) – Held in Denver's Civic Center Park and on the
surrounding streets, A Taste of Colorado has become a signature
Labor Day Weekend event. This year, the festival will have a fresh,
new feel with more than 50 food vendors, 175 artisan marketplace
vendors, a KidZone experience with arts, crafts and a children's
entertainment stage. There will also be an elevated music
experience with a larger main stage featuring more than 25 national
and regional musical acts.
Denver Food + Wine Festival (September
4-9) – Denver Food + Wine Festival is a multi-day
extravaganza of food, wine and spirits education and tastings.
Events include Dinner Under the Stars, a Culinary Cinema Series,
SHAKE DOWN (a cocktail event) and the signature event, The Grand
Tasting.
Grandoozy (September 14-16)
– This September, Denver will host the first ever Grandoozy –
the latest large-scale festival from Superfly, the producers of the
wildly popular Outside Lands and Bonnaroo. Headliners include 2018
Pulitzer Prize Winner Kendrick Lamar, Florence + The Machine and
Stevie Wonder, and the festival will
also host The Chainsmokers, Logic, Sturgill
Simpson, Miguel, Phoenix,
Young the Giant, St. Vincent, The
War on Drugs, Ty Dolla $ign, Kelela,
Denver locals Tennis, and many more on multiple stages over
weekend. Grandoozy will also showcase Denver's arts and culinary
scene and love of the outdoors with multiple experiences throughout
the festival grounds.
Blockbuster Exhibitions
NEW Kirkland Museum of Fine
& Decorative Art
In March
2018, Kirkland Museum opened its doors to a new building,
featuring Vance Kirkland's 1910–1911
studio & art school building, moved to Bannock Street. The new
facility features the addition of new and expanded visitor
amenities and a world-class display space. In 2013, ten years after
the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art opened to the
public on Pearl Street, it became clear that in order to best
promote international decorative art, Colorado and regional art and Vance Kirkland, a larger building would be
necessary. In January 2014, Kirkland
Museum announced plans to move the museum to a new building in
Denver's Golden Triangle Creative District.
Degas: A Passion for Perfection (through
May 20) – Denver Art Museum,
the only U.S. venue to host Degas: A Passion for
Perfection, which showcases prolific French artist Edgar Degas'
works from 1855 to 1906. More than 100 works consisting of
paintings, drawings, pastels, etchings, monotypes, and sculptures
in bronze are on view. The exhibition focuses on the most prominent
and recurring themes throughout Degas' 60-year career. These
include his interest in learning from the art of the past and that
of his contemporaries, a passion for horses, and his strong
interest in opera and dance. The museum is also home to everything
from world-class traveling exhibits to daily activities such as
coloring, costume creation and building in the Just for Fun Center,
to weekend activities; there is something for every guest, every
day. Note: Degas: A Passion for Perfection is a special,
ticketed exhibition, and there is a fee to view it for guests ages
six and older. The rest of the museum is open via general
admission, and children under 18 receive free general
admission.
Creatures of Light (through June 10) – Denver Museum of Nature &
Science's new exhibition Creatures of Light explores the
mysterious world of bioluminescence, visible light generated by
living things through a chemical reaction. Lifelike models,
spectacular immersive environments and simulations, unusual
animals, videos, and engaging hands-on activities create an
enlightening experience. The exhibition features a dark cave
illuminated by glowworms, an interactive "lagoon" and more.
Dead Sea Scrolls (through September 3) – The regional premiere of the
exhibition that has captivated millions around the world is a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see authentic Dead Sea Scrolls,
ancient manuscripts that include the oldest known Biblical
documents dating back over 2,000 years. The scrolls are
dramatically presented featuring carefully regulated individual
chambers, along with the full English translation. In addition, the
largest collection of artifacts from the Holy Land ever assembled
for display allows guests to explore the traditions, beliefs and
iconic objects of ancient Israel
that continue to impact world cultures today, including
inscriptions and seals, weapons, stone carvings, terra cotta
figurines, coins, shoes, textiles, mosaics, ceramics and
jewelry.
Pixelated: Sculpture by Mike
Whiting (April 28 –
September 23) – Pixelated:
Sculpture by Mike Whiting will
explore the relationships between the natural world and the
artificial world of digital media this summer at Denver Botanic
Gardens. Whiting's sculptures also represent the intersection of
two distinct visual styles: 8-bit pixel graphics—which have enjoyed
a recent resurgence in games like Minecraft—and minimalist
sculpture. Technological limitations in early video games reduced
the graphics to simplified shapes, while the minimalist art
movement created artworks that purposely lacked detail.
Pixelated investigates the opposite intents of these two
artistic approaches that result in a strikingly similar visual
outcome.
America's Musical Journey (through December 31) – On the IMAX screen at Denver
Museum of Nature & Science, experience the sounds of jazz,
blues, zydeco and old-time country music, and see how they have
shaped our nation's distinctive musical heritage. In America's
Musical Journey, singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc takes viewers to
vibrant places where American music was born, from New Orleans to New
York City. Meet artists, music makers and innovators who are
shaping culture today with the creative risk-taking spirit that has
always characterized America.
About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors
Bureau
Celebrating 109 years of promoting The Mile High
City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts
with the City of Denver to market
Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic
development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. A
record 17.3 million visitors stayed overnight in Denver in 2016, generating $5.3 billion in spending, while supporting nearly
57,000 jobs, making Tourism one of the largest industries in
Denver. Learn more about Denver on
the VISITDENVER website and at TOURISMPAYSDENVER or by phone at 800
2 Denver. Denver International Airport (DEN; flydenver.com)
connects The Mile High City to more than 190 destinations worldwide
including nonstop service to 26 international destinations in 11
countries. Follow Denver's social media channels for
up-to-the-minute updates at: Facebook.com/visitdenver;
Twitter.com/visitdenver; Instagram.com/visitdenver; and
YouTube.com/visitdenver.
With press or photo inquiries, please
contact:
Jesse Davis: (303)
571-9450 or jdavis@visitdenver.com
Ashley Geisheker: (303) 571-9451 or
ageisheker@visitdenver.com
Rochelle Jones: (303) 571-9418 or
rjones@visitdenver.com
View original content with
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/third-days-a-charm-long-holiday-weekends-in-denver-pack-more-in-than-ever-before-300633490.html
SOURCE VISIT DENVER